But the local authority refused to grant the owner permission, saying the houses would impact the “openness” of the Greenbelt, would not be well served by public transport and local amenities and would encroach on the hillside.

According to the planning application, the “current garden centre use is unsustainable to maintain”.

However, Tony Norris, who has run Bathford Nurseries for 15 years, hit out at the proposal, saying he has run the business for more than a decade.

Bathford Nurseries is located on Box Road (Image: Paul Gillis)

Mr Norris said: “I have been here for 15 years and my dad ran the business before me and he was here for nine years.

“I actually found out about the application on January 2 when I came back from the Christmas break.

“I knew he (the landlord) was going to put in a planning application as he had mentioned it about a year and a half ago, but I hadn’t heard anything since.

“Then this application was suddenly put in before Christmas and it has taken us by surprise.

“We sell a lot of plants and have many customers who are really worried.”

The plans, which proposed to build four detached and four terraced homes with five four-bed properties, two three-bed and one five-bed home, also attracted criticism from ward councillors and Bathford Parish Council.

Councillor Alison Millar (Lib Dem, Bathavon North) wrote on the planning portal: “[I’m] very concerned about the fact that this site is located both in the Greenbelt and in the AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty).

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“In spite of comments to the contrary the site could be used for agricultural purposes such as sheep grazing.

“It will result in the loss of a historic asset to the area, and the closure of the well-used business will result in reduced employment opportunities.”

When refusing the application, development manager Mark Reynolds said: “The proposal was considered unacceptable for the reasons given and the applicant was advised that the application was to be recommended for refusal.

“Despite this, the applicant chose not to withdraw the application, and having regard to the need to avoid unnecessary delay the Local Planning Authority moved forward and issued its decision.”

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